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CenterStage Theatre

CenterStage began in 1977 as the volunteer theatre company at the Rochester Jewish Community Center. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Ralph Meranto since 2005, CenterStage is now a professional theatre utilizing the finest local actors, directors, and designers to present a 5-show subscription series of plays and musicals.

SUBSCRIBE NOW and lock in the best seats at the lowest prices.

CenterStage is a proud member of TheatreRocs.org: your central source for Rochester Theatre schedules and information.

Tickets available at the JCC Main Desk whenever the JCC is open: (585) 461-2000 x 0 or CLICK FOR TICKETS at the links below.

WEATHER NOTICE: CenterStage shows do not cancel for bad weather conditions (the show must go on!) but we will always try to exchange tickets when possible for those that miss due to weather conditions.

Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins and Joan Baez have enjoyed long careers in music as the female faces of folk in the 1960s. Linda Foster leads a team of musicians in a celebration of the legacy of these amazing singer-songwriters. Linda is joined by vocalist Laura Jean Smillie-Diekmann, Kevin Leib on piano, David Ianni on guitar and Kelly Schroeder on bass.

John Sebastian and David Grisman's musical history dates back to college days at New York University circa 1963 when the Greenwich Village folk revival was in its' heyday. They made their first recording together as members of the Even Dozen Jug Band with future luminaries Maria Muldaur, Stefan Grossman and others. The rest, of course is musical history. John Sebastian became lead singer and songwriter of one of America's most popular bands - The Lovin' Spoonful and David Grisman spearheaded an acoustic music revolution with his genre-defying "Dawg" music.

Finally, after a 40+ year hiatus, their paths crossed again at a benefit concert in Mill Valley, California. After this mutually enjoyable evening of spontaneous music, it became obvious that they would continue collaborating and the result is a stunning collection of acoustic duets featuring traditional folk tunes, blues, classy instrumentals and originals by these two legendary masters.

Location

When Delphine and Carmela Calamari are hired to cater an event at a Jewish funeral home, there's no telling what they'll whip up in their kitchen. From matzah balls to meatballs, challah bread to pizza dough, and gefilte fish to baccala, the girls try desperately to bridge the cultural gap.

The sisters pay their respects in the only way they know how — by singing, dancing, and cooking through memorable songs less-than-appropriate for your typical interment. Needless to say, by the end of the show, you’ll agree that death becomes the Calamari Sisters.

When a young Jewish girl is cast to play the role of Jesus in the school Christmas pageant, her immigrant parents struggle to balance their holiday traditions with their new role as Americans. This new play from Pulitzer Prize-winner Donald Margulies weaves together nostalgia, music, merriment, and multi-holiday pageants into a delightful holiday show for people of all ages and all faiths.

You know her as the booming voice of The Witch in Into the Woods, the hair-impaired Daphna in Bad Jews, the passionate wife of Leo Frank in Parade and the quirky half of the couple in The Last Five Years. Now, one of this area's most versatile performers is getting "out of costume" for a premiere event at JCC CenterStage.

From classics to contemporary, and of course a belt or two from Broadway, unwind with this charming and captivating reflection on life's quick changes and wardrobe malfunctions. Expect the unexpected with Janine Mercandetti - Out of Costume.

With special guest, Ru Paul's Drag Race star Mrs. Kasha Davis.

Wednesday, December 30 at 7 PMCheese and wine reception with Janine following the show

The team that brought you last year's sell-out sensation The Hit Factory is back with an all-new tribute to American popular music. Using last year's pop infused "Brill Building Sound" as jumping-off point, The Hit Factory 2takes us to the end of that era as singer-songwriters became the norm and performers like Neil Diamond, Paul Simon, Neil Sedaka, Carol King and Bobby Darin became household names.

A searing comedy-drama in the tradition of August: Osage County and Bad Jews, the joys of a family reunion quickly unravel when a prodigal daughter returns to her family's Palm Springs home and announces plans to publish a childhood memoir. As her retired ambassador father, image-conscious mother, rehabbing aunt and ne'er-do-well brother team up to stop her, long-held family secrets continue to be revealed. This 2012 Broadway hit, from the author of Substance of Fire and the creator TV's Brothers and Sisters, was nominated for a Tony Award® for Best Play and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Music by Thomas "Fats" Waller Conceived by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby Jr.

The Joint will be Jumpin' when the golden age of The Cotton Club and Savoy Ballroom get recreated in this rollicking, finger-snapping, toe-tapping and bawdy tribute to the Harlem Renaissance of the early 1900s. A stellar cast, including Di'ta Monique and Darren Frazier from The Hit Factory, sing the songs that made the inimitable "Fats" Waller an international sensation.